Friday, 12 August 2011

This what the top of my head looks like. It does seem to be getting worse slowly. And you are right, it is very shiny.

Here is a silly photo of me and another of me with my brother's hair. Its true he brushes his hair, and maybe thats where i went wrong, but it doesn't improve things much for me does it? Still i can have dreams can't i? This could be me. With Rogaine!

With this in mind i went and bought some Regaine, online. Though actually its now called Rogaine. Name changes always annoy me but thats another story. In fact i bought Rogaine/Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam 5% w/w Cutaneous Foam - 3 months supply. The three small tubes of foam that i have to rub into my head twice a day.

Regaine used to be a liquid but, so the PR goes, that only worked for 3 in 10 people. This foam stuff is said to work for 9 out of 10. In which case why are any stars of film and TV bald? But they are bald stars so i suspect this will not work. Oh and being the super-effetive foam it costs more: this lot cost me £46 from Home Naturals Inc. On the Regaine site (http://www.regaine.co.uk/hair-loss-products) its recommended price is £70.

The Rogaine site says:

9 out of 10 men say the kept or regrew their hair with New Regaine Extra Strength Foam

So i guess that means that in the study most people are unable to notice any hairloss over a 3 or 4 month period and but that a small (otherwise they would have said!) number did notice that their hair regrew a bit. Thats enough of a chance for me!

It also says:

Minoxidil is the only over the counter medicinal treatment clinically proven to regrow hair

Minoxidil (trade names Rogaine, Regaine, Avacor, Loniten (orally), and Mintop among others ) is an antihypertensive vasodilator medication which also slows or stops hair loss and promotes hair regrowth. Now off-patent, it is available over the counter for treatment of androgenic alopecia, among other baldness treatments. However, measurable changes, if experienced, disappear within months after discontinuation of treatment...

Minoxidil was first used exclusively as an oral drug (trade name Loniten) to treat high blood pressure. However, it was discovered to have an interesting side-effect:Minoxidil may cause increased growth or darkening of fine body hairs, or in some cases, significant hair growth. When the medication is discontinued, the hair loss will return to normal rate within 30 to 60 days. ...

In addition, its effectiveness has largely been demonstrated in younger men (18 to 41 years of age). Minoxidil use is indicated for central (vertex), or top of head, balding only.

So, as a 47 year old with a huge area of baldness things are not looking good.

I particularly like, in Side Effects:

Ironically, hair loss is a common side effect of minoxidil treatment. Manufacturers note that minoxidil-induced hair loss is a common side effect and describe the process as 'shedding'. Although this phenomenon demonstrates that minoxidil is indeed affecting hair follicles, manufacturers offer no guarantee that the new hair loss will be replaced with hair growth.

The speculated reason for this "shedding" is the encouragement of hairs already in the telogen phase to shed early, before often beginning a fresh, healthier anagen phase...

Minoxidil is highly toxic to cats and rats and may cause death.

Though i have many curious genes, and i have been accused on occasion of being a rat, though sadly never a cat, i pretend to be not too bothered by that last side effect. But i am a bit depressed by the possible 'shedding'.

So, here is a film of me applying Regaine to my head.

I will, in a month maybe, revisit my head and see how its been going and whether there is any visible difference yet.